Warning and signaling light having oscillatable lamp units



WARNING AND SIGNALING LIGHT HAVING OSCILLA'I'ABLE LAMP UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1950 M. w m m y 6, 1952 A. c. HEEHLER ETAL 2,595,253

WARNING AND SIGNALING LIGHT HAVING OSCILLATABLE LAMP UNITS Filed Jan. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Hz E17 furs y 6, 1952 A. c. HEEHLER ETAL 2,595,253

WARNING AND SIGNALING LIGHT HAVING OSCILLATABLE LAMP UNITS Filed Jan. 13, 1950 .3 Sheets-Shea}, 5

v [E MyMM 51,35

Patented May 6, 1952 WARNING AND SIGNALING LIGHT HAVING i .O'SCILLATABLE LAMP UNITS Arthur C. Heehler and Thomas E. McDowell, Chicago, Ill., assignors to The Pyle-National Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 13, 1950, Serial No. 138,442

11. Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to illumination apparatus for warning and signalling purposes and more particularly relates to a warning and signalling light having one or more oscillatable lamp uni-ts adapted to produce a changing pattern of light.

According to the general features of the present invention, a casing may be provided having a mounting plate adjustably supported therein. A pair of self-aligning bearings or other type of swivable support such as flexible diaphragms are carried by the mounting plate in predetermined spaced relationship and a pair of lever arms extend through each of the bearings or supports for oscillatory movement therein.

A sealed-beam type lamp unit is rigidly connected to the free end of each of the lever arms and the other end of each of the lever arms is connected by a connecting rod or link. The link is provided with a self-aligning bearing effecting a driven connection with an eccentric rotary drive powered through a gear box connected toan electric motor. Thus, upon energization of the motor, both of the'sealed-beam type lamp units are oscillatedin a conical path to project an oscillating beam of light in changing pattern for warning or signalling purposes.

A lens assembly may be fitted on the front end of the lamp structure so that a lens will lie in registry in front of each of the sealed-beam type lamp units, one of the lenses being of clear glass and the other being of any desired hue.

.The energization of the lamp structure may be so controlled as to selectively produce varicolored beams of warning light.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a novel linkage for an oscillatable warning light which is pivotally supported for oscillatory movement in self-aligning bearing means and which may be suitably oscillated so that lamp units carried thereby are moved to produce a changing pattern of light.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a universal type self-aligning swivel support or bearing for a lever arm carrying a lamp unit on the end thereof so that the lever arm may be oscillated by a driving means to move the lamp unit as in producing a changing pattern of light.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a warning and signaling light having a plurality of lamp means movably supported in predetermined spaced relationship and so constructed and arranged as to direct a merging beam of light, the lamp means being associated with driving means so as to permit synchronous oscillation of the lamp means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a'multi-lamp unit warning light mounted for oscillatory movement on an adjustably suspended support plate.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a warning andsignalling light of simplified construction incorporating therein a reduced number of elements which are easy to manufacture, durable in use, and efiicient in operation.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a lamp unit according to the present invention with parts shown in elevation and with parts broken away and with parts removed for the sake of clarity;'

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view looking into the back end of the structure and showing additional details and construction of the lamp unit of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view in reduced scale of the lamp unit of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a somewhat schematic wiring diagram showing a control system for the warning and signalling light of the present invention; and

Figure 5 Ba fragmentary view of a simplified universal support joint'as may be employed according to the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

The warning and signalling light of the presentinvention'is indicated generally by the reference numeral l0 and includes an open-ended casing II closed by a door I2 hingedly connected to the casing l I as at l3. A gasket l4 may be carried by the door 12 for seating against the edges of the casing I l whenthe door 12 is in the closed position and locked to the casing I l by latch means indicated generally by the reference numeral [6.

On the inside of the casing II are provided'a pluraliti of spaced bosses Ila, preferably three in number, each of which may be provided with a threaded aperture-l1 .to receive an adjusting bolt l8 therein.

A support element in the form of a plate I9 is carried by the adjusting bolts 18 and is normally spring biased 'away from the 1 bosses i I la. by a plurality of resilient members 29, one surrounding each of the adjusting bolts l8. Thus, the alignment of the support element or plate i9 may be selectively varied by turning the respective adjustment bolts 18 within the threaded apertures l1 against the bias of the resilient elements 20. The limits of adjustment may be determined by spacer sleeves 2! which are adapted to surround each resilient element 20 and adjusting bolt 18 and to seat upon the shoulder presented by the boss portions Ila.

As may be clearly seen in Figure 1, a plurality of universal type self-aligning swivel bearings indicated generally by the reference numeral 22 are provided in predetermined spaced relationship on the support element or plate l9 so as to lie in registry with one of a plurality of apertitres 23 defined by the support element or plate l9.

Each of the bearings 22 includes a housing 24 which may be secured to the plate I!) by fasteners 26. An outer race 21 defining a segmental spherical seat is carried within the housing 24 and seats a plurality of ball bearings indicated generally by the reference numeral 28.

A plurality of lever arms is provided to extend through the bearings 22. As shown in this particular embodiment, an upper lever arm 29 and a lower lever arm 30 are shown, each of which is constructed to carry an inner race 3| which is appropriately grooved to cooperate with the ball bearings 28.

Retainers 25 complete the bearing structure and retain the ball bearings within theraceway.

If desired, a simplified universal type support joint may be provided in place of the self-aligning bearings. For example, as shown in Figure 5, a lever arm 29' is shown supported for oscillatory movement by a flexible diaphragm 22' mounted on the support plate l9 by means of a washer 24' and fasteners 26'.

A lamp unit is rigidly connected on the end of each of the lever arms 29 and 39, such provision including in this embodiment a lamp unit 32 connected to the lever arm 29 and a lamp unit 33 connected to the lever arm 30. The other end of the lever arms 29 and 30 are joined by a connecting rod or link indicated generally by the reference numeral 34.

The lamp units 32 and 33 are of identical construction and include a housing 36 which may be firmly assembled to a boss 31 by means of fasteners 38, the boss 31 being, in turn, firmly connected to the lever arms 29 and 30. Each of the housings 36 carries a retaining flange 39 which is so constructed as to seat the annular shoulder 40a of a sealed beam type lamp 4B.

The sealed-beam lamp 40 may be positioned and secured in the housing 36 by means of a holding ring 4| telescopically associated with the retainer flange 39.

In order to accommodate dimensional variations, the holding ring 4! is preferably provided with an inner flange 43 supported by a plurality of resilient elements 42 so as to yieldingly clamp the annular shoulder 40a of the sealed-beam lamp 40 against the retainer flange 39. The holding ring 4| and the retainer flange 39 may be adapted for quick-coupling action by pin and bayonet slot connections indicated generally by the reference numeral 44 (Figure 1).

It will be understood that each of the sealedbeam lamps 40 will be provided with the usual conductor wires 46 which are connected to a flexible braided wire conductor 41 connected to a terminal block 48 carried on the support element or plate Hi. The connection is effected by means of a binding post 49 supported in a bushing 55 made of electrically non-conductive material carried by the housing 36. A shield of electrically non-conductive material indicated by the reference numeral 51 may be provided on the external surface of each of the lamp units 32 and 33 so as to prevent the flexible braided wire conductors 4! from short-circuiting through the housing of each of the lamp units 32 and 33 during operation of the light.

A spacer 29a and 30a surround each of the lever arms 29 and 30 and abut against the inner races 3i of the bearings 22. The other end of the spacers 29a and 30a abut a fork member identified by the reference numerals 52 and 53 respectively. The fork members 52 and 53 are made integral with the lever arms 29 and 30 by means of set screws 52a and 53a.

Each of the fork members 52 and 53 receives the reduced end of the connecting rod or link 34 in a pivotal connection established by a pivot pin 52b and 53b. The pivot pins 52b and 5312 may be retained against endwise displacement by means of conventional cotter pins.

The connecting rod or link 34 is provided with a universal type self-aligning swivel bearing indicated generally by the reference numeral 54 which includes an outer race 56 defining a segmental spherical seat for seating ball bearings 51. An inner race 58, which is appropriately grooved to cooperate with the ball bearings 51, is also provided, the inner race 58 journaling a pin 59 forming a part of an eccentric crank indicated by the reference numeral 60. The bearing 54 is also provided with retainers 55.

The eccentric crank 60 is provided with a driven connection to a drive shaft 6| by means of a set screw 62, the drive shaft 6| being powered through a gear box 63 associated with an electric motor 64.

The gear box 63 and the motor 64 may be carried by the support plate through the employment of a support stand 66 integrated with the support element or plate IS.

The door l2 may be provided with appropriate apertures arranged.- in substantial registry with each of the sealed-beam lamp units 32 and 33. Such apertures are indicated generally by the reference numerals 61 and 68. A lens may be mounted in each of the apertures 61 and 68, such assembly including in this embodiment a pair of lens holders 69 and 10 carrying lenses H and '12, respectively. It will be readily understood that, if desired, one of the lenses H or I2 may be of clear glass or similar translucent material and the other lens may be of any desiredhue as may be advantageous for warning and signalling purposes.

In constructing the linkage of the present invention, the length of the spacers 29a and 30a, as well as the length of the connecting rod or link 34, may be experimentally determined so that the linkage will take the general configuration of a parallelogram. For most purposes, it is probably desirable to construct the linkage elements in such a manner as to align the lamp units 32 and 33 to produce merging beams of light.

Whether the lamp units 32 and 33 have been arranged to produce a single merged beam of light or not, it will be readily apparent that the general alignment of the projection axis of the light projected outwardly through the open end of the casing ll viathe-apertures B1 and 68 of theidoor l2 maybe-readily and easily adjusted by meansv of the suspended support element or plate I9.

In operation, themotor 64, or any equivalentl for the warning and signaling light of the present invention may-be described. As is diagrammatically shown in'Figure 4, an upper lamp unit 32- and alower lamp unit-33 are incorporated-in a controlcircuit; Forpurposes of explanation, it is assumed that the'upper lamp unit directs'its beam'of light'through a lensil of red hue, such' color oftentimes being desirable if the warning-J. and signalling light of the present invention is employed in a locomotive installation.

For projection of a' stationary beam of clear light, by a manual operation, the master switch is moved to manual position and the selector switch is moved to white position, thereby com pleting the circuit to the lower lamp unit 33 and producing'a beam of clear light.

Since the operation of a motor 64 is regulated by'a separate motor control switch, the beam'of light projected by the lamp 333 will be stationary until'the ccntrol switch is moved to the run position, whereupon the linkage of the light struc ture Ill will be oscillated to move the lamp unit 33 thereby producing a changing pattern of light.

If it is desired to inch the beam of light projected by the lamp unit 33 around to different points along the conical path described by the projected beam of light, as would be desirable if the warning and signalling light it) was installed upon a railroad locomotive, the motor control switch. may be selectively held in the inching position as long as is necessary to complete the circuit to the motor64-and move the lamp unit 33.

If a beam of red light is desired and the master switchis on manual, the selector switch is movedto the red position whereupon the coil of a relay 76- will be energized and the switches'of the'relayl'dwillbe closed. The circuit'to'the lamp unit 32 will be completed, energizing the light, and the circuit to the motor 64 will also be completed so that a gyrating beam of red light will be projected.

It will be noted that a pilot light is connected across the leads to the lamp unit 32 so that the operator will always have a ready indication of the energization thereof. Should the lamp unit 32 fail, the coil of the relay 16 will be deenergized, the relay switch in the pilot light circuit opened, and the pilot light will be extinguished.

In automatic operation, the master switch is moved to the automatic position, thereby cutting in an additional control switch which is regulated by a pressure responsive control device as is frequently employed in connection with the air brake system of a railroad train. e

In automatic operation, the selector switch may be moved to the white position so as to produce a stationary beam of white light. However, this particular setting will be overcome by operation of the pressure responsive control device,

In the present embodiment,- the,

forxexample; if; an emergency condition. detected byith'e 'deviceeshouldsoccur; or, ii the light-:lllis employedion: a: railroad train, if .a: change. 1111 air pressure-should..occuiyxashin thesetting of the trai-nibra'kes;so'that'the Jswitch controlled by the pressurerresponsive control device will be moved downwardly; thereby bypassing the selector switch. and automatically" initiating red operation:-

Restorationzof normal airpressure and subsequent inactivation of the pressure responsive control. device will again restore normal white operation unless, as an added safety measure, a control device is' employed which requires a manual resetting. With a manual reset, the red operationwillcontinue until .the reset is deliberatelyzactuated. This feature may be desirable in theevent oflan'emergency condition, for example-, a:. prolonged halting of a railroad train where normal-air'pressure'is restored before the emergency is ended In automatic operation, a red beam of'warning light may be projected by setting the selector switch;to.. the red position. It will be apparent that actuationtof. the pressure responsive control devicexwill notiafiectsuch operation because the switchcontrolled-by thepressure responsive controls device merely efiects bypassing of the selectoriswitch, which is already in red position.

Iti will'ibe: noted that at dimmer resistance is providediomthe. selectorswitch. By such provision'theilamptmaybedimmed selectively by the operator-,1

Although'it is contemplated that var ous minor modifications may be made to the structure herein described by way of illustratlveexample only,

itishouldsbe understood that we do not wish to be li mited to'preciSe mechanical details but wish to embody within the scope of this patent all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim: as our invention: 1 warning and signalling light comprising an open-endedcasing, a support plate therein, at. least-two-lever-armsextending through the supportiplate; said'plate having means to support saidlver arms for oscillatable movement, light source means on one end of each lever arm on one side of the'su-pport plate to direct beams of light th'rou-gh theopen end of the'casing, driving meansoirthe other side of the support plate, and a-- driven connection between the driving means andthe leverarmsto oscillate the other end of the lever 'arms whereby the light source means on said one end of the lever arms will be concurrently oscillated to produce moving beams of light.

2. A warning and signalling light comprising an open-ended casing, a support plate, adjustable alignment means to movably suspend the support plate in the casing, a plurality of lever arms extending through the support plate, said plate having means to support said lever arms for oscillatory movement, a light source unit on one end of each of said lever arms, means pivotally joining the other end of the lever arms, and motor means having a driving connection with the lever arm joining means to oscillate the other end of each of said lever arms whereby said light source units will be concurrently oscillated to produce moving beams of light.

3. A warning and signalling light comprising an open-ended casing, a support plate, means to suspend the support plate in the casing, a plurality of self-aligning bearing means carried by the plate, a link extending through each of the bearing means and supported thereby for oscillatory movement, a light source unit on one end of each of the links, means pivotally joining the other ends of the links, motor means, an eccentric crank connected thereto, and a self-aligning bearing means interconnecting the crank and the link joining means whereby the other end of said links may be pivotally oscillated to concurrently move the light source units, thereby producing movable beams of light.

4. A warning and signalling light comprising an open-ended casing, a door closing said opened casing, a plurality of lenses mounted in spaced apart relationship on said door, one of which may be colored, a plurality of light source units corresponding in number to said lenses movably mounted in said casing, each light source unit lying in registry with a corresponding one of said lenses, and means to move said light source units, whereby movable beams of different colored light may be projected outwardly through the lenses.

5. A warning and signalling light comprising an open-ended casing, mounted in spaced apart relationship on the open end of the casing, one of which may be colored, a plurality of light source units corresponding in number to said lenses movably mounted in said casing, each light source unit lying in registry with a corresponding one of said light source lenses, means to move said light source units, and means to selectively energize said light source units, whereby a selectively colored beam of light may be projected outwardly of the casing through said lenses.

6. In a warning and signalling light, selfaligning bearing means, a plurality of links, each of said links being pivotally supported in said bearing means intermediate the ends thereof, light source means mounted on one end of each of said links, a connecting arm pivotally joining the other ends of the links, and motor means drivingly connected to said connecting arm to oscillate said connecting arm, all of said links being pivotally displaceable simultaneously in the bearing means by the motor means to concurrently move all the light source means, thereby providing movable beams of light.

7. A control system for a warning light comprising a first light source unit, a second light source unit, motorized means to move both of the light source units to produce a changing pattern of light, selector switch means to selectively a plurality of lenses.

energize the light source units, control switch means to selectively control the energization of the motorized means, switch means having elements responsive to a change of a variable condition and arranged to selectively by-pass the selector switch means in the event a change of a variable condition occurs, and master switch means to selectively by-pass the switch means upon actuation thereof.

8. In a warning and signalling light, a plurality of lever arms, means intermediately supporting said lever arms for universal oscillatory movement, link means pivotally connecting one end of each of the arms, light source means on the other end of each of the arms to project beams of light and oscillating means connected to the link means, whereby said lever arms and said light source means will be concurrently oscillated to produce a changing pattern of light.

9. A warning and signalling light structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said means intermediately supporting said lever arms comprise a support plate having an apertured flexible diaphragm to oscillatably support each of said lever arms.

10. A warning and signalling light structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said means intermediately supporting said lever arms comprise a support plate having a universal type selfaligning swivel bearing to oscillatably support each of said lever arms.

11. A warning and signalling light comprising a casing, a plurality of lenses aligned in spaced apart relationship in one wall of said casing, a light source unit for each of said lenses movably mounted in said casing in alignment with the corresponding lens, means to selectively energize said light source units, and means to move said light source units to project movable beams of'light outwardly of said casing through said spaced apart lenses.

ARTHUR C. I-IEEHLER. THOMAS E. MCDOWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,221,483 Kennelly Nov. 12, 1940 2,409,046 Kennelly Oct. 8, 1946 2,486,853 Kennelly Nov. 1, 1949 2,510,892 Kennelly June 6, 1950 

